CLE Online

Day 1: Thursday April 6, 2017

Welcome and Introduction

Todd R. Bell — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver

The Changes and Challenges in Family Law

• technology 
• ADR
• self representation
• experts

Karen F. Nordlinger, QC — Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger LLP, Vancouver

Understanding and Dealing with the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the Separation

• the good: the healthy healing process
• the bad: when the separation hinders the children
• the ugly: when the separation harms the children and complicates the legal process

Nicole Aubé, Phd, RPsych — Vancouver

Neworking Break

Managing Your Clients: Intake and Communication

• assessing clients’ emotional states
• screening clients and knowing when to run screaming
• retainers and retainer letters
• managing expectations
• responsibilities for screening for family violence
• top 10 red flags 

Nicola D. Allen — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver
Kathryn L. Basran — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver 

Parenting Coordination, the Program and the Role of Counsel

• the program in brief
• the PC agreement/court ordered appointments
• role of counsel
• enforcement

R. Craig Neville — Watson Goepel LLP, Vancouver
Leanne Harder, MSW, RSW — Olive Branch Consulting, Vancouver

Networking Lunch

Taking Action

• assessing options
• negotiation and mediation
• collaborative law
• commencing proceedings
  

Phyllis M. Kenney, QC — Family Lawyer, Vancouver
Jeremy S. Sheppard — Hayward Sheppard, Vancouver

Making the Most of Client Meetings

• become the prudent skeptic
• assessing goals versus options and range of likely outcomes
• realism and reality testing
• legal opinions

Kevin J. Heinrichs — Henderson Heinrichs LLP, Vancouver

Networking Break

Disclosure and Discovery 

• disclosure triggers and ongoing disclosure obligations
• client understanding and awareness
• Family Law Rules
  • lists of documents
  • examinations for discovery
  • interrogatories

Annie C. Kaderly — Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger LLP, Vancouver
Eli C. Walker — Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger LLP, Vancouver

Judicial Case Conferences

• preparing yourself and your client
• document preparation
• Family Law Rules
  • the scope of JCCs
  • disclosure obligations
• effective use of JCCs 

Meghan J. Selinger — Hamilton Fabbro, Vancouver 

Day 2: Friday April 7

Welcome and Introduction

Todd R. Bell — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver

Chambers Practice: How to Avoid Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory

• read the Chambers Rule
• preparing the notice of application
• affidavits – what to avoid
• without notice orders – short leave and restraining orders
• submissions – presentation and content
• jurisdiction

Master Robert W. McDiarmid — Supreme Court of BC, Kamloops

Experts

• types of experts:  section 202 and 211 reports, joint, party’s own, courts’ own, rebuttal
• contents of experts’ reports

Anne Demeulemeester — Aaron Gordon Daykin Nordlinger LLP, Vancouver   
Todd R. Bell — Schuman Daltrop Basran & Robin, Vancouver

Networking Break

Justifying Your Calculations: Spousal Support and Child Support Guidelines Cases

• income calculation for the Advisory Guidelines
• income calculation for the Child Support Guidelines
• understanding the software
• understanding your results

Scott L. Booth — Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP, Vancouver  

Managing Your Clients: Dealing with the Law Society and Errors in Family Practice

• tips to avoid complaints
• civility
• responding to the Professional Conduct Department at the Law Society
• tips to prevent allegations of negligence
• when and how to report to the Lawyers Insurance Fund

Carolyn R. Anderson — Law Society of BC, Vancouver
Megan Swail — Lawyers Insurance Fund, Law Society of BC, Vancouver

Networking Lunch

Trial and Mediation Preparation

• mediation briefs
• judicial case conference briefs
• client preparation
• organizing documents
• witnesses
• experts
• trial management conferences
• opening and closing arguments

Mark R. Slay — North Shore Law LLP, North Vancouver 

Networking Break

Section 8 - From Process to Resolution

• choosing the process: negotiation, collaboration, mediation, med/arbitration and litigation
• confirming settlement: drafting effective separation agreements, minutes of settlement and consent orders
• capacity and process breakdown

Mary E. Mouat, QC — Lawyer & Mediator, Quadra Legal Centre, Victoria

Conducting Effective Hearings Before the Registrar

• avoiding assessmentsin
• inquiries, assessments and accounts process and procedure
• settling orders

Registrar Stuart Cameron — Supreme Court of BC, Vancouver